Beyond Your Smile: Why You Need to Replace Missing Teeth

Lost teeth aren’t just about appearance. Missing teeth on the side or back may not be visible, at least initially. It doesn’t matter how you lose a tooth; treating tooth loss with dental implants preserves oral health in several important ways. 

Jason Ray, DDS, is a dental implant specialist. He and his team at their Santa Monica, California, office offer implant services to patients who understand the importance of full dentition for overall oral health. Tooth loss goes beyond your smile. Here’s why you need to replace missing teeth. 

Tooth movement

Beyond their roles in eating and speaking, full arches support tooth alignment and maintain facial structure. Teeth can naturally shift over time, and they rely on adjacent teeth to maintain position and stability. Losing a tooth can trigger drifting of your remaining teeth, which in turn may cause:

• Problems with bite alignment
• Unusual tooth wear
• Stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of the jaw
• Loose teeth
• Additional lost teeth

Shifting teeth can also create better habitats for harmful bacteria, increasing your risk of gum disease.

Jawbone erosion

The force imparted on your teeth when you bite or chew is not only the first stage of digestion, but it also creates a symbiotic force that stimulates the regeneration of jawbone tissue. 

The crown of your tooth is only the visible portion. The tooth root comprises approximately two-thirds of the tooth, extending below the gumline into the jaw and holding the tooth in place. The root is the portion of the tooth that stimulates jawbone tissue regeneration during chewing. 

Bones need this stimulation to stay strong. When you lose a tooth, the stimulation is lost, increasing the risk of bone loss over time. 

Some of the signs of bone loss include:

• Facial changes 
• Sunken lips
• Problems with chewing or speaking
• Wrinkles around the mouth

Ongoing bone loss from missing teeth may lead to additional tooth loss, requiring more extensive dental interventions. 

Other options for missing teeth

In addition to dental implants, other options for replacing missing teeth include crowns and bridges, as well as hybrid solutions that combine multiple crowns on one or more implants. 

Keep in mind that any tooth restoration that doesn’t include an implant won’t guard against the loss of jawbone tissue. Conventional dentures don’t require implants, but implant-supported dentures do. 

Find out more by contacting Jason Ray, DDS, by phone or online to request an appointment today.